Valerie Duport, a seasoned luxury executive whose career has spanned Chanel, Kering, and the launch of her own advisory firm, has been elected president of the organization behind the Hyeres International Festival of Fashion and Photography. She succeeds Pascale Mussard, who held the role for a decade and oversaw the festival’s expansion into a globally recognized platform for emerging design talent.
For young designers, Hyeres remains one of the few platforms where a single collection can launch a career. Duport’s election signals that the festival intends to maintain that catalytic role while adapting to an industry where digital presentation, direct-to-consumer strategies, and community building have become as important as the traditional runway format.
Duport brings a rare combination of corporate luxury experience and independent sector credibility. She spent 12 years at Chanel in strategic roles, followed by a senior position at Kering where she worked across the group’s portfolio of luxury houses. Her advisory firm has worked with both heritage maisons and emerging brands, giving her a panoramic view of the industry’s talent pipeline.
The restructuring under Duport’s leadership is expected to focus on three priorities: strengthening the festival’s financial independence, expanding its mentorship and residency programs beyond the annual competition, and deepening ties between the organizing body and the fashion schools that feed its applicant pool.
The leadership change arrives as the festival’s organizing body undertakes a broader structural review, examining its governance model, funding streams, and programmatic priorities for the next decade. Hyeres has grown significantly since its founding in 1985, but the competitive landscape for emerging designer platforms has intensified, with the LVMH Prize, ANDAM Awards, and Fashion Trust Arabia all vying for the same cohort of graduating talent.
